Bill Summary for Bill Number Discussion of Departmental Budgets

Date: 02/08/2006

Final
Discussion of Departmental Budgets

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved that a letter be sent to the JBC recommendin Moved to add to Letter #2 support for the JBC's "c Moved to include in the JBC letter support for (in Moved to recommend in a separate letter to the JBC Moved to support the State Fair's request for $600 Roll Call Upon Reconvening. Members Present.	PASS Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

08:36 AM -- Discussion of Budget Priorities

Henry Sobanet, Director, Office of State Planning and Budgeting, commented on funding for the State Fair. He said that he supports the leadership at the State Fair. However, he noted that they have inherited financial burdens over many years. He said that the Fair is not a profit making center. He said that the State Fair's needs should be considered apart from the remainder of the budget of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Sobanet noted that in recent years cash flow loans have been approved to the State Fair and that this practice is a normal function of state government. The Fair's loan request for this year is now $2.4 million. He said that the "de-facto situation" is now that a permanent subsidy is in place. He said that it does not look like a plan is in place to bring the Fair back to solvency, and noted that the Fair is requesting a $4.3 million General Fund subsidy. He stated that the operation of the Events Center should be out-sourced and that a five-member advisory committee should be appointed. He recommended that the procurement code of the state should apply to State Fair operations.

Mr. Sobanet said that the Fair will lose its enterprise status when this appropriation is made.

08:51 AM

John Harrison, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff, discussed the JBC's consideration of budgetary priorities for the Department of Agriculture. He commented on the potential for an annual appropriation to support the State Fair. This appropriation would cover annual operating losses. He spoke of the potential for matching grants for conservation efforts.

08:57 AM

Recess.

11:32 AM

The Joint Committee reconvened. Rep. Curry called the meeting to order and requested a roll call (See below.)


BILL:	Roll Call upon Reconvening.
TIME:	11:32:37 AM
MOVED:
MOTION:	Roll Call Upon Reconvening. Members Present.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Entz	Yes
	Gallegos	Yes
	Gardner	Yes
	Groff	Yes
	Grossman	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Hoppe	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Rose	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Taylor	Yes
	Tochtrop	Excused
	White	Yes
	Curry	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
Not Final YES: 16 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:38 AM

John Harrison, Joint Budget Committee Staff, commented on the Department of Agriculture's request for appropriations for the State Fair. Senator Isgar said that the Office of State Planning and Budgeting reported this morning that loans will not continue to be approved for the State Fair.


BILL:	Discussion of Departmental Budgets
TIME:	11:49:21 AM
MOVED:	Hoppe
MOTION:	Moved that a letter be sent to the JBC recommending the expenditure of $3,770,846 out of the FY 05-06 budget for debt service and accumulated operating losses of the State Fair. The motion passed 15-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Entz	Yes
	Gallegos	Yes
	Gardner	Yes
	Groff	Yes
	Grossman	No
	Harvey	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Hoppe	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Rose	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Taylor	Yes
	Tochtrop	Excused
	White	Yes
	Curry	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
Not Final YES: 15 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	Discussion of Departmental Budgets
TIME:	11:56:50 AM
MOVED:	Hoppe
MOTION:	Moved to support the State Fair's request for $600,000 from the FY 06-07 Budget as an ongoing operating subsidy. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Entz
	Gallegos
	Gardner
	Groff
	Grossman
	Harvey
	Hodge
	Hoppe
	McFadyen
	McKinley
	Rose
	Solano
	Taylor
	Tochtrop
	White
	Curry
	Isgar
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	Discussion of Departmental Budgets
TIME:	12:00:44 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved to recommend in a separate letter to the JBC that $400,000 from General Funds be appropriated for matching grants for conservation districts. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Entz
	Gallegos
	Gardner
	Groff
	Grossman
	Harvey
	Hodge
	Hoppe
	McFadyen
	McKinley
	Rose
	Solano
	Taylor
	Tochtrop
	White
	Curry
	Isgar
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	Discussion of Departmental Budgets
TIME:	12:06:13 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved to include in the JBC letter support for (in the FY 06-07 letter relating to the districts) funding for the Noxious Weed Program at $290,000. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Entz
	Gallegos
	Gardner
	Groff
	Grossman
	Harvey
	Hodge
	Hoppe
	McFadyen
	McKinley
	Rose
	Solano
	Taylor
	Tochtrop
	White
	Curry
	Isgar
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	Discussion of Departmental Budgets
TIME:	12:09:01 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved to add to Letter #2 support for the JBC's "caps" decision. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Entz
	Gallegos
	Gardner
	Groff
	Grossman
	Harvey
	Hodge
	Hoppe
	McFadyen
	McKinley
	Rose
	Solano
	Taylor
	Tochtrop
	White
	Curry
	Isgar
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

12:11 PM

The committee meeting adjourned.